A Bridgeton man was sentenced to 16 years in prison in the years-long sexual assault of a relative.
Pacual Matias, now 54, was convicted in August on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Matias had sexual intercourse with the child who was younger than 13 in Bridgeton and Greenwich Township from November 2006 to November 2009, according to the information in the case. Earlier information about the case indicated the abuse happened between the ages of 6 and 8.
He was sentenced to 16 years in prison under the No Early Release Act, meaning he must serve at least 85 percent of his term before he is eligible for parole.
Matias faced as long as 20 years on the first-degree charge and five years for endangering.
He must also register as a Megan’s Law offender upon his release, and will be subject to parole supervision for life.
The case first came to light in 2014, after police were called to an unnamed school for the report of a juvenile student whose uncle was alleged to have committed acts of sexual assault, according to previous reports.
Matias was first convicted in a 2017 trial, but that was overturned on appeal. At his sentencing last week, the judge rejected a motion for a new trial.
